Invisibly hinged handbag frame



Dec. 11, 1951 B. M, STREGACK INVISIBLY HINGED HANDBAG FRAME Filed July 26, 1946 Fig. 2.

I N V EN TOR. B oris Martin Sfregqck A TTORNE Y Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,578,612 INVISIBLY HINGED HANDBAG FRAME Boris Martin Stregack, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,587

3 Claims. (01. 150-29) This invention relates to frames for ladies hand-bags, and more particularly, relates to spring hinges for hand-bag frames.

l-Ieretofore, in hand-bag frames of the type comprising hinged jaws adapted to be moved between a closed position with the jaws in parallel relation andan open position with the jaws angularly disposed, it has been the practice to attach the leaves of the spring hinges to the jaws with rivets, grommets, dowels, or the like. This method is laborious and frames so constructed present an unfinished and unattractive appearance because the ends of the rivets or other attaching media protrude from the surface of the jaws or terminate in depressions therein.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a hand-bag frame in which the hinges are attached without rivets, grommets, dowels or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide an invisibly attachable hinge for hand-bag frames.

Still another object of my invention is to provide in a hand-bag frame, an inexpensive invisible hinge which is easily fixed to the frame to produce a rigid and durable attachment thereto.

With these and other objects in view which will appear from the ensuing description and claims, the following sets forth a specific embodiment of my invention which is illustrated as an example, and which will best be understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of one of the jaws of a hand-bag, showing the method of attaching the hinges. V

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of my spring hinge with the leaves in fully closed position.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of my spring hinge with the leaves opened to the minimum angle of stability.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of my spring hinge with the leaves in wide open position. v

Fig. 6 is a top perspective view and Fig. 7 a bo tom perspective view of my spring hinge opened to the position shown in Fig. 4.

I Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a generally U-shaped jaw i0 comprising one of two identical thermoplastic jaws of a hand-bag frame, the second jaw not being illustrated. The Jaw it] has two terminal portions l2 and I3 with coplanar end surfaces l4 and 15, respectively. Each of the terminals 12 and I3 has a medial longitudinally-disposed segment-shaped groove I8 normal to the surfaces l4 and 15, with the chords of the segments lying in the plane of said surfaces.

Each terminal I2 and I3 is also provided with a pair of holes l8 drilled normal to the plane of the surfaces [4 and I5 and symmetrically disposed longitudinally to either side of the bisector of the groove it. Each of the grooves 16 and its associated pair of holes I8 is adapted to receive and retain one of the leaves 22 of a spring hinge 20, the pair of holes I8 being spaced to accommodate two parallel prongs 24 extending outwardly from leaf 22. The facing sides of the pair of attachment prongs 24, constituting the bifurcated outer end of the leaf 22, are serrated to form teeth 26. The teeth 26 are shaped so that they are directed generally toward the hinge pivot pin 28, whereby they constitute retention points to prevent removal of the prongs 24 once they have been inserted in the jaw Ill.

The hinge 20 is comprised of a pair of identical leaves 22 of resilient metal and the pivot pin or pintle 28. The inner end of each spring leaf 22 is split transversely of the axis of the pivot, the metallic strip on one side of the split forming a spring member 30, and the metallic strip on the other side of the split being rolled to form a sleeve member 32. Two of the leaves 22 are assembled complementally on the pin 28, with the respective sleeve members 32 disposed adjacent each other and surrounding the pin 28 with a sliding fit, the spring member 3|] of each leaf overlying respectively the sleeve member 32 of the other leaf. The pin 28 is provided with a head at one end and peened over at the other, or is otherwise prevented from sliding out by methods well known in the art.

- On the outer cylindrical surface of each of the sleeve members 32, and integrally formed therewith, is a generally hemispherical detent knob or button 34 cooperating with the overlying spring member 30 to urge the leaves 22 to open or closed position. The relative positions of the detents 34 with respect to the spring members 30 is such as to provide a position of stability with the leaves 22 opened to an angle of approximately degrees, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 6 and 7. Angular movement of the leaves 22 from the 90-degree position to the wide open position illustrated in Fig. 5 is resisted only by frictional pressure of the member 30 on the sleeve 32, and any position intermediate those of Figs. 4 and 5 is a position of stability. However, when it is attempted to close the leaves from the 90-degree position, the spring members 30 are cammed by the detent 34 into a position of increased fiexure and the movement is resisted by the resilience of the metal which develops a force tending to restore the leaves to the stable 90-degree position. As the leaves 22 are closed against this restoring torque, the flexure increases to a maximum at an angle of opening of approximately 45 degrees where the members 30 are in an unstable tangential relation to the detents 34. On'further closure, the resilience of the members 30, by camming action on the detents 34, urges the leaves 22 to the fully closed position of .Fig. 3.. The jaws of the hand-bag therefore tend to remain closed until suflicient force is applied to open them to the 45-degree position whereupon they snap open to the stable QO-degree position, and conversely.

In attaching my hinges to the terminals l2 and 13, I heat-the hinges or the plastic material or both to a degree commensurate with the-softening characteristics of the thermoplastic material of which the jaw 93 is molded, and then force the leaf 22 into the groove i6 and associated pair of holes 18. The relative dimensions of the holes ['8 and prongs 24 are proportioned such that with the thermoplastic material at the temperature to give the required relation between degree of plasticity and force employed, the prongs 24 including the teeth 29 are tightly sealed into the thermoplastic material. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the teeth-26 are forced into the side walls of the holes '18 and, due to plasticity, the material of the jaw seals behind each tooth, thereby fixing the hinges in' place with an exceptionally strong and tight grip.

It is also within the scope of my inventionto mold the jaw 16 with the leaf '22 as an insert, the leaf being suitably positioned .in the mold during the molding process, whether it be by injection or compression molding. By this method the prongs 2d are firmly embedded in the material of the jaw without likelihood of loosening or pulling out during normal use of the article. It is obvious that in this method of attaching thehinges, the material from which the jaw is molded may be thermosetting plastic as Well as thermoplastic.

In hand-bag frames fabricated from wood or from suitable types of plastic materiaL'the leaf 22 may be forced into the groove 16 and its'associated'holes it without the use of heat, the'teeth 26 being shaped, as illustrated, with an inclined advance edge to cam the plastic or wood fibers aside for relatively easy ingress, and a transverse trailing edge to look into the surrounding material and resist extraction.

I have shown the prongs 24 as formed'by'simple die stamping from a rectangular leaf. However, it is obvious that teeth similar to the teeth 26 could be formed 'in the same manner on the outer edges of the prongs rather than onthe'faci'n'g edg-esas illustrated. Also,if desired,the'tee'th' can readily be formed on both facing and outer edges. Furthermore, although I'have illustrated and described the leaf 22 as being bifurcated to form'two prongs, it should be understood'that the leaf may terminate in as many prongs as may be deemed desirable.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as other embodiments will be evident to those skilledin the art, a ell as obvious modifications in construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a hand-bag frame of the type having hinged thermoplastic jaws adapted to be moved between a closed position with the jaws in parallel relation and an open position with the jaws angularly disposed, a spring hinge including leaves each terminating outwardly for a substantial part of its length in a plurality of parallel serrated prongs, each of said jaws having a like plurality of holes in the hinged edge drilled radially to the axis of angular move- .mentand suitably spaced to receive the respective prongs, said holes being of a diameter so proportioned to the transverse dimensions of said prongs as to accommodate them with a force fit such that with the thermopastic material at the temperature to give the required relation between degree of plasticity and force employed said prongs including the serrations thereof are tightly sealed into the thermoplastic material, and the prongs of each of said leaves being thus sealed into the corresponding respective holes in each of said jaws, the relative proportions of said hinge being such that a substantial part of each leaf is concealed within the thickness of the thickness of the associated jaw leaving the adjacent side surfaces thereof undisturbed.

'2. The invention set forth in claim 1 characterized in having the inner end of each of said leaves split, the metal to one side of the split forming a fiat spring member and the metal to the other side of the split being rolled to form a sleeve member, a pivot pin in said pivotal connection, said leaves being assembled complementally with the sleeve members disposed adjacently on and encircling said pin and the spring member of each leaf overlying the respective sleeve member of the other leaf, and detent means on said sleeve members cooperating with said spring members to urge said hinge to a closed position and to an open'position.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 characterized in that each of said leaves terminates outwardly in two parallel serrated prongs and that the serrations are in the form of teeth directed generallytoward the pivotal connection.

BORIS MARTIN STREGACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 586,663 Hubbard i July 20, 1897 588,642 Hoffman Aug. 24, 1897 1,248,593 Arnold Dec. 4, 1917 1,269,764 Weaver June 18, 1918 1,475,132 Monaghan Nov. 20, 1923 1,521,237 'Fuller Dec. 30, 1924 1,632,334 Hiering J une'14, 1927 1,635,699 Beattey July 12, 1927 1,636,019 Stuart July 19, 1927 2,099,924 Bressler Nov. 23, 1937 2,145,689 Hanle Jan. 31, 1939 2,265,704 Stein et al Dec. 9, 1941 2,277,176 Wagner Mar. 24, 1942 2,365,817 Henke Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 440,254 France Apr. 29,1912 774,426 France :Sept. 17, 1934 

